Young Movie Lovers Take Back The Conversation At TIFF Next Wave Film Festival

Romance, Tragedy, And Self-Discovery — Young Movie Lovers Take Back The Conversation At TIFF Next Wave Film Festival

International feature films from acclaimed directors Spike Lee and Houda Benyamina, a 24-Hour Film Challenge, Freaks and Geeks Movie Marathon, Battle of the Scores, and the inaugural Young Creators Co-Lab

Your first love. Your first loss. The first time you broke the rules and felt the thrill. Some of the most magical moments in life are your firsts — many of them happening in your youth. Take a trip back in time and relive your firsts at the sixth annual TIFF Next Wave Film Festival™.

Running from February 17 to 19, 2017 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, young audiences will delve into current and relatable topics through a slate of international films spanning all genres, and participate in a variety of engaging film-related events, including the always popular Battle of the Scores, 24-Hour Film Challenge, Freaks and Geeks Movie Marathon, and the inaugural Young Creators Co-Lab, a full-day of programming tailored exclusively for youth interested in exploring the world of film and filmmaking. New this year, all regular screenings and Movie Marathon titles are FREE for anyone under 25!

The festival is steered by the TIFF Next Wave Committee, a voluntary advisory team made up of 12 youth dedicated to bringing quality film programming and film-related events to young film lovers across the city.

“The passionate and talented members of this year’s TIFF Next Wave Committee are the minds and hearts of this festival,” said Elizabeth Muskala, Director, Youth Learning. “I am always in awe of their passion and ability to curate such a diverse slate of programming that is on the pulse of what youth want to see and what they need to see.”

“One of this year’s films, California, is so great because it has the nostalgic background of the ’80s (especially for those who love classic pop rock), and allows you to navigate through the vibrant and exciting life of a Brazilian teenager, but also lets you emotionally relate to someone who wants to see the world, just as much as all of us do,” said Richmond Uy, Next Wave Committee Member.

“We programmed 400 Blows, one of our Movie Marathon titles, because of its honesty surrounding adolescence, identity, and rebellion,” said Ben Sagar, Next Wave Committee Member. “Truffaut’s debut feature is a love letter to film and the quintessential coming-of-age classic — a must see for any film goer!”

This year’s film highlights include Golden Globe–nominated Divines (2016) from debut director Houda Benyamina, a suspenseful, kinetic film about a pair of young women determined to make their own way in a world that seems set against them; Miles Joris-Peyrafitte’s As You Are (2016), the retelling of a friendship between three teenagers through a construction of different memories; and Before I Fall (2017), from indie darling Ry Russo-Young, which is a filmic journey that follows a young woman discovering the best version of herself as she learns to accept the finality of death.

Other highlights include award-winning director Chloé Leriche’s debut feature Before the Streets (2016), which provides a meditative glance into Indigenous processes of connection, redemption and healing; and as part of Canada on Screen/Canada à l’écran, TIFF’s year-long programme in celebration of Canada 150, a free screening of Xavier Dolan’s Mommy (2014), an emotional film about the perils of a strained, unstable mother-son relationship.

Special guests will be announced in the coming weeks on tiff.net/nextwave.

Tickets for the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival go on sale today to TIFF Members and to the public on January 25 at 10 a.m. Pricing as follows: Regular film screenings and the Freaks and Geeks Movie Marathon are FREE to youth under 25 with valid identification (Battle of the Scores and After Party, and special screenings $11.50); adults $14 and students/seniors $11.50. TIFF Next Wave Young Creators Co-Lab $11.50. TIFF Next Wave 24-Hour Film Challenge $40. For more information on screenings and activities or to purchase tickets, please visit tiff.net/nextwave, call 416.599.TIFF (8433) or 1.888.599.8433 or visit the box office at TIFF Bell Lightbox.